Apparatus for evaporating liquids.



I. THELBN J. B. SPEED. APPARATUS FOB EVLPBATIFB LIQUIDS.

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945,640. Patented Jan 4, 19m.

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'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EAUL TRELEN, 9F m Mm m Ilm 311cm 'EMIL 0F IEBXELEY, 6mm; SAID um m02 T0 SAID THELEN.

APPARATUS 2F03 EVAPORATING LIQUIDS.

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Patented Jau. 4, 1910.

Appllcltlon llcll mi!" 9, 1F09. mi In. 518m.

JAm-:s BUcxNna SPEED, citizens of thev United States, residing the said Timms at the city and county of San Francisco and State of California and the said Srnsn at Berkelc Alameda county, California., 'have invente certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Eva Liquids, of which the following is n speci lication.

Our invention relates to that class of liquid evaporators in which ees of distillation or concentration 'is per formed according to the method of concentric shells, and it consists .in the novel arrangement and combination of parts which we shall hereinafter fully describe together with the objects and advantages o' thirfivention. th dt eerrin 'to eeccom en ewmgs' the ligure gis a 'sectionalpelevation of on!s ap aratus.

or the purposes of this ap tion we will assume the liuidf'to behan "is water which contains issolved ino ic salts; that the process isone of di tion; that the multiple eect is triple, all above |atmosphenc pressure; and that the concentric shells have a vertical axis. These assumptions are, however, merely illustrative, as we shall hereinafter show; for the liquid handled may be other than water; the -proccss may be one of concentration or may include for 4lts object both concentration and distillation; the elfects may be of other multi le -than triple, and me -be below otmosp 1er-xc (pressure, or part a ove and rt below; an the shells may be inclinerlmor have other than a vertical axis. All 'these variations and others fall within our invention, and may be readily made as will be fully shown hereinafter.

In this apparatus the still-unit is composed of three cylindrical shells the inner one bem designated by 1, the middle one by 2, und .t e outer one by 8. These shells are nested 1n such n wny'as'to furnish one cylinxlricnl com artment 4, and two com artmenls 5 anc 6, respectlvely, whose horizontal section is nn annulus. A distributorpipe 7 gin-(llos the inner shell 1, near its to und another distributor pipe 8, irdles tie middle shell 2 nom' 'rte top. Enc of those pipes has disc .rg0 holes l), so disposed ne a multiple procto divide uniformly, by means of jets, the 'raw water which is lto be dislled, and to divide it in such a way that a Elm of water is maintained all over the outside surfaces ofthe twoshells 1 and 2. At the'bettom of the still in the bese of compartments and 6 are t'wo cylindrical part-itlon walls 10 and 11 respectively, of :my suitable he" l t thouh here shown as relatively low, ea o whic difoid the annnl which it is located into two smaller rnamuluees of which the outer will handle disftillate and the inner concentrate. Q

12 is a pump by which the rafw water is supplied to the still under pressure. The lpipe 1B from the pump connects, thro h certain heat-intero presently to described, with the delivery pipes 14 and 15 which fiend to the distributor pipes 7 and 8 mectxvely.

he heatinterchangers may be of any suitable conventional or standard type, say for example, concentric spaced pipxes. 'In fthe sent instance there are four entfin- -terc rs, two for handling the distillate 'and two Af-tor 'the concentrate. One of the l-former is composed of an outer pipe 16 which comn-nmicut below with *the ump pipe 13 and above with the delivery pipe 14 to the distributor 7; and nn inner pipe 1T which communicates above with 4a steam- -trap 18, and 'below with the distillate tank 19. The steam-tra 18 communicates with the distillate annuliis in the base of compartment 6. The other distillate heatinterchanger is similarly composed of an outer pipe 20 communicating be ow with the plunp pipe 13 and nbove with the delivery 15 -to the distribute:- 8; and an inner pipe 21 communicnt-in above with u steam-trap 22 und below witi the distillate tnnk 19. The steam-tru -22 communicates with the distillato annu us in the buse of compartment G. One of the two henl interchnngers for thel concentrate is composed of nu outer pipe 23, which communicates below with the pumppipe 13 and n'bovc with the outer pipe 16 of the first hen( intim-hunger for the distillato; and an inner pipe .24 which communicates above with n stcum trup 25. und below with tho concentratihmk 2li. The steam lrnp .25 communicates with the concentrate nunulus in the buse of enlupurlnwul The other hem' intel-changer for thv column! rule in composed of un outer pipo 2T which cmmnuuiar compartment in 66 evaporated oil" into steam from this outer catas below with the umfp ipe 13 and above with the outer pi Q t e second heat 1nterchanger for t e distillate; and an inner pipe 28 which communicates above with a steam trap 29 and below with the concentrate tank 26. The steam. trap 29 com munlcates with the concentrate annulus in the base of compartment 6.

The several steam traps may be of any suitable or standard t'pe and need no de tailed description or il ustration, their .function merel to dischar automatically from the still t e condens steam and the residue from eva ration, which two liquids have been term above res ectively distillate and concentrate. The eat-interchangers serve as pre-heaters for the raw water and as coolers for the waters from the steam traps dischar e.

30 is a boi er, '.'oni which high pressure steam is discharged through a ipe 31 into the inner shell 1 of the still. T e condensa I tion from this steam is discharged from said shell by gravity back to the boiler, through the pipe 32.

In connection with the pump-pipe 13 1s a condenser 33 of any suitab etype, said pum pipe leadn into and emerging from 1e condenser. -s condenser communicates hiv a pipe 34 with the interior of the outer shel 3 and said condenser dischar by a i 3,5 into the distillatetank 19. geSsome ofptli: steam from shell 3 passes down into the condenser 33, and is therein due to the cold raw-water passin through said condenser, reduced to a distl ate and passes down to the tank 19, while the raw-water itself, in effecting this condensation, has its temperature raised. 'lhe condenser thus serves bot-h as a re-heater for the rawwater and as a di ate condenser.

The method of operation of this apparatus is as follows: The boiler 30 discharges hilli1 ressure steam into the inner shell or cy er l of the still. This steam condenses and discharges by gravity back to the boiler. It condenses on the inner surface of the inner shell 1 by virtue of a film of cooler water which is maintained by the distributcr pipe 7 on the outer surface of said shell. A portion of this film of water is evaporated oli' progressively at intermediate pressure, by virtue of the heat of condensation of the lnffh pressure steam. The water evaporated ofi? here into steam condenses similarly on the inside surface of the second shell 2, and

evuporates, at low pressure, a ortion of the film of still cooler water, wliich is maintained by the distributor i e 8, on the outer surface of said second sliel 2 The water sur ace of shell 2 condens-ses in part on the inner surface of the outershell 3 and in art i in the condenser 33. 'lho watt-r whicl is evaporated and condensed within the elilll becomes distillate und flows down in a tihn on the inner surfaces of shells 2 and 3. I t asses into the distillate annuluses in the ttom of compartments 5 and 6 and from these is delivered through thc steam traps 18 and 22 to their respective heat-interchangers, in which it coming raw water from the pump, and is finally voided, luke-warm, into the distillate tank 19, A portion of this condensed water also reaches the distillate tank through the condenser 33. The raw water, which flows in u film down the outer surfaces of shells 2 and 3 loses progressively of its muss by evaporation, and becomes a concentrate. which contains all the salts of the original water. This concentrate enters the inner annnluses in compartments 4 and :"5 and thence is discharge through the steam tra )s 25 and 29 to their respective heat interchangers, and thence it iinds its way, luke-warm into the concentrate tank 26. The entire body of raw water is pumped through the condenser and pre-heater 33 and thence through the interchangers to the distrbuter pipes.

An apparatus of this type may be varied to cover a wide range, wit respect, first, to the number of effects; second to the pressure and temperature range; thir to the process; and, fourth, to the distribution of theliquids.

First. The number of eifects may be varicd at w of concentric shells, or by running several stills in sexies.

Second. The Lrssures may all be above atmospheric, ma g a pressure plant; or all below atmospheric, making a vacuum plant; or they may ran from above atmos here to below atmosp re, making a com ined pressure and vacuum plant.

Thi rd. When the cess is distillation for distilled water, the istillate is the valuable product, while the concentrate is either discarded or further treated for what salts it may have in solution. When the process is concentration, as in sugar house ractlce theconcentrate is the primary value le product, while the distillate is distilled water, which is also valuable.

Fourth. One untreated liquid under rcssure may supply all effects; and all e ects may discharge concentrates of the same density; or the concentrates from the effects of higher temperature may be discharged at a lesser density and may then become thc untreated liquld for the e'ects of lower tempernture within which a further concentration muy then be oilected.

All concentrated liquids and condensed vapors being automatically discharged by the steam traps, there is no labor cost for this item.

The arran ement of thoevaporuting liquid in this nove t pc of [ihn causes a quiet steaming thong in immenso volume. It

loses of its heat to the in either by changing the number 4 lll does away entirely with boiling or spitting l other surface; and stemmi-ups discharging said liquids from the collecting and contributes very materially to the high heat transmissions which are obtained.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 0 l. In an ap aratus for eva ratin liquids iu multiple e ect, a series o neste( s need shells; means 'for supplying the raw i uid ilmwise to thc outer surface of each s ell inclosed in the series; means for applying heat sufficient for all effects, to the interior of the innermost shell, and means for sep- 2 opposing surfaces of adiaccnt shells the concenti'iited li uid from one surface und the uiately collecting from the opposing surfaces of adjacent shells the concentrated liquid from one surface and the distilled liquid from the other surface.

2. In an apparatus for evnporatin liquids in multiple e ect, a series of neste s aced shells; means for supplying the raw i uid filmwise to the outer surface of each s ell inclosed in the series; means for applying heat suliicient for all effects, to the interior of the innermost shell; a artition wall in each intershell s ace for col ecting separately the concentrate liquid coming from the outer surface of one shell from the distilled water comin from the inner surface of the adjacent she and means for separately discharging said liquids.

3. In an ap aratusforeva oratin liquids in multiple e ect, a series o neste s aced shells; means for supplying the raw i uid ilinwise to the outer-surface of each ell inclosed in the series; means for applying heat suliicient for all etects, to the interior of the innermost shell; a partition wall in each intershcll space dividing said space into two intercominunicatin spaces one adjacent to the outer surface o one shell and the other ad'acent to the inner surface of the next sh l; and means for separately discharging the liquids from said two spaces.

4. n an apparatus for evaporatindg liquids in multiple e ect, a series o neste s aced sliells means for supplying the raw qpid filmwise to the outer surface of each s ell inclosed in the series; means for applying heat suliicient for all eccts to the interior r of the innermost shell; a relatively low partition wall in the lower end of each interslicll space dividing said space into two spaces one adjacent to the outer surface of one shell und the other to the inner surface of the next shell; and means for separately discharging the liquids from said two spaces. Iunn ap ai'atus for cra orutin liquids iii multiple e ect, a sci-ics o neste s )need shells; means for supplying the raw li uid filmivisc to thc outer surface of cach s oll iuclosed in the series; means for applying lient sollicitent for ull cll'ects to the interior of the innermost shell; moans for separate] collccting i'roin the opposing surfaces of at jacent siclls the concentrated liquid from one surface and the distilled liquid from tllie or sepanue y means. l

6. In an apparatus for evaporatiug liquids in multiple e crt, a series of nested, spaced shells, pipes for feedinv' the rau' liquid tothe series of shells; distriliiiting pipes for sup plying the ruw liquid tilinwise to the outer surface of each shell inclosed in the serios: means for applying heat .suicient for all effeats to the interior of the innermost shell: means for separately collecting from the distilled liquid from the other surface: separate discharge pipes from said collecting means; and a series of heat-interchangers involvin the feed pipes for raw liquid and the dise arge pipes from the collecting means.

'i'. In an ap arutus for eva oratin liquids in multiple e ect, a series o nest spaced shells, pipes for feedin the raw liquid to the series of shells; distri iitiiig pipes for supplying the raw liquid lmwise to the outer surface of each shell inclosed in the series; means for applying heat suilicient for all effects to the interior of the innermost shell; means for separately collectin from the opposing surfaces of adjacent 'iells the concentrated liquid from one surface and the distilled liquid from the other surface; a series of steam traps for separatel discharging said liquids from the collecting means; discharge pipes from said steam traps; and a series of heat ntercliangers involving the feed pipes for raw liquid and the discharge pipes from the steam traps.

8. In an apparatus for eva oratin liquids in multiple e ect, a series o nestet spaced shells; a feed pipe for the raw liquid; distributer pipes for supplying the raw liquid {ilmwise to the outer Surface of each .shell inclosed in the series; means for applying heat sutlicient for all effects, to the interior of the innermost shell; means for separately collectin from opposing surfaces of adju cent she ls the concentrated liquid from one surface and the distilled liquid from the other surface; pipes for separately dischargingr said liquids from the collecting means: and n condenser comuniuicating, with the interior of the outermost shell to receive a poi'- tion of the steam therefrom and condense it, said condenser being so disposed relativi-l to the ruw liquid feed pipe as to sci-vc hot i as u condenser for the steam und pre-heater for the ruw liquid.

l). Tn an np 'iarutus for rvuporuliu'r liquids in multiplo et ect., n series ot neste spaced shells: a feed pipe for the ruw liquid; dis trihuter pipes for supplving the mir liruid lilimvise lo the outer surface of cui-li slit-.l inclosed in the serios; menus for applying lient.

sufficient for all eil'euts, to the interior' of the innermost shell; means for separately collecting from opposinv surfaces of adjacent shellsthe concentrate liquid from one surfnee and the distilled liquid from the other surface: u series of steam tra s for separately discharging said liquids rom the collectng means: a series of heut interchun ers involving the trap discharges and the eed pipe for the ruw liquid; and u condenser communicating with the interior of the outermost shell to receive a portion of the steam therefrom and condense it, said condenser being so disposed relatively to the raw liquid l feed pipe ns to serve both as a condenser for I the steam and a pre-heater for the raw liquid.

10. In an ap aratus for evuporating liguids, in multip e effect, u series of neste i spaced shells; menus for supplying the ruw liquid filmwise tu the outer surface of each shell lnelosed 1n the series; a beller, havin l u steam pipe leading to the innermost she und n return pipe to said boiler for the water of condensation from said shell; and means for separately collecting from the opposin surfaces of adjacent. shells the concentrate/ liquid from one surface and the distilled liquid from the other surface'.

In testimony whereof we have signed our l names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PAUL THELEN. JAMES BUCKNER SPEED. Witnesses:

WM. F. Boo'rxx, D. B. RICHARDS. 

